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❶ Electromagnetic Domain and Security ●The electromagnetic spectrum is propagated by the

oscillations of electric and magnetic fi elds. In everyday life,

it is used for various purposes ranging from television and

mobile communications to geolocation information through

global positioning systems.

In the defense fi eld, the electromagnetic spectrum is used

for command and control communications equipment, radar

systems for detecting enemies, missile guidance systems, and

other equipment. Securing superiority in the electromagnetic

domain is indispensable for modern operations. Activities

using the electromagnetic domain include electronic warfare

and electromagnetic spectrum control. Electronic warfare

means or approaches are generally classifi ed into three –

electronic attack, electronic protection and electronic warfare

support.

See Figure 1-3-4-1 (How to Use the Electromagnetic Domain in the Defense Field)

“Electronic attacks” are designed to reduce or neutralize

adversary communications and search capabilities by

sending stronger radio waves or radio waves pretending to be

adversary waves aimed at an adversary’s communications and

radar equipment to jam waves coming from such equipment.

They include radio wave jamming, radio wave deception

and physical destruction using high-power electronic waves

(such as high-power laser and high-power microwaves).

See Section 1-1 (3) of this Chapter (High-power Energy Technology)

“Electronic protection” makes equipment stealthy

or diffi cult to be detected by adversaries and reduces or

neutralizes adversary electronic attacks on communications

and radar equipment by changing electronic wave frequency

for use or increasing its power.

“Electronic warfare support” consists of activities designed

to collect information on adversary electromagnetic spectrum

for electronic warfare purposes. It is necessary for effective

electronic attacks or protection to detect and analyze what

electromagnetic spectrum is usually used by adversaries

for communications equipment, radar and electronic attack

aircraft. It is desirable to be able to conduct electronic

warfare effectively even if electromagnetic spectrum used

by adversaries is not detected or analyzed in advance. For

example, AI may be mounted on or used for equipment to

immediately analyze jamming and automatically select

frequency bands that are the most invulnerable to jamming.

“Electromagnetic spectrum control” means the control

and adjustment of electromagnetic spectrum use to facilitate

electromagnetic domain activities such as electronic attacks

and protection. Specifi c measures for the control include

the detection of how electromagnetic spectrum is used in a

theater of operation, as well as the adjustment of frequencies,

directions and durations of electromagnetic spectrum used

for friendly forces and equipment to avoid electromagnetic

spectrum interference. At present, research is being

conducted on technologies for detecting and visualizing how

electromagnetic spectrum is used.

Fig. I-3-4-1 How to Use the Electromagnetic Domain in the Defense Field

Frequency: LowWavelength: Long

Electromagnetic waves

3GHz 30GHz 300GHz 400THz 790THz 30PHz 3EHz

Frequency: HighWavelength: Short

Infrared rays Visible light Ultraviolet raysRadio waves Microwaves

Radio waves: Communications, radarsInformation sharing through satellite communications

Detection of enemies by a radar Accurate guidance by an infrared sensor

Infrared rays: Guidance of missiles Visible light: Reconnaissance satellites Lasers (ampli�cation and radiation of electromagnetic waves)

Ascertaining of circumstances byan optical satellite

Monitoring of space through laser distance measurement

Accurate guidance of missiles through laser irradiation

X-rays, γ-rays, etc.

Trends in Electromagnetic DomainSection

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Section 4Trends in Electromagnetic Domain

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181 DEFENSE OF JAPAN 2020

Major countries apparently recognize electronic attacks as

an asymmetric means similar to cyber attacks to effectively

hamper adversaries’ military performance, emphasizing

and enhancing electronic warfare capabilities, including

electronic attacks.

❷Each Country’s Electronic Warfare Initiatives ●1 The United States and Europe

The United States is committed to expanding electronic

warfare training and equipment and to enhancing

cooperation with its allies under an initiative to aggressively

achieve its dominance in the electromagnetic domain.

Major U.S. electronic warfare units include the Navy’s 13

electronic attack squadrons armed with EA-18G electronic

warfare aircraft as well as Marine Corps flight squadrons

with electronic warfare aircraft. As an example of military

operations using electronic warfare equipment, there is an

assessment that U.S. electronic warfare units used EA-18G

aircraft in Libya in 2011 to jam ground radar of the Libyan

government forces, preventing their attacks on NATO aircraft.

It is pointed out that the LMADIS (Light Marine Air Defense

System) counter unmanned aircraft system with electronic

warfare capabilities was used for leading an Iranian drone to

crash over the Strait of Hormuz in July 2019.

The U.S. Air Force activated the 16th Air Force in October

2019 to integrate functions for ISR, cyber warfare, electronic

warfare and information warfare. The Army plans to deploy

multi-domain task forces integrating long-range precision

attack, electronic warfare, cyber and other capabilities in the

Indo-Pacific and other regions from FY2021.

Many other NATO member countries are also developing

equipment for severe electronic warfare environments and

allegedly conducting electronic warfare-oriented exercises

with Russian forces’ electronic warfare equipment in mind.1

2 China

China has set an initiative to put cyber warfare and other

electronic elements, and physical destruction and other

non-electronic elements under unified control.2 Under

the initiative, China conducts force-on-force exercises

on a routine basis to effectively accomplish missions in

complicated electromagnetic environments, improving

practical capabilities. It is pointed out that China’s armed

forces have taken advantage of such exercises to assess

electronic warfare weapon research and development

achievements.3 The Strategic Support Force, established for

improving overall military operational capabilities, may be

responsible for such domains as electronic warfare, cyber

and space.

China’s TU-154 intelligence and Y-8 electronic warfare

aircraft have been seen flying around the Nansei Islands and

the Sea of Japan in the vicinity of Japan. It is also reported

that China has mounted electronic warfare pods for jamming

missions on J-15 fighters, H-6 bombers, and other aircraft,

and deployed a jamming system on Mischief Reef of the

Spratly Islands.4 In a military parade to mark the 90th

anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in July

2017, unmanned aircraft reported as mounted with electronic

warfare equipment were displayed.

Counter unmanned aircraft system “LMADIS”

【U.S. Marines】

1 According to “All quiet on the eastern front: EW in Russia’s new-generation warfare,” Jane’s International Defence Review (April 2018)2 According to “The Military Balance 2019,” U.K. International Institute for Strategic Studies3 According to “Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2019,” U.S. DoD4 According to “An Accounting of China’s Deployments to the Spratly Islands,” Center for Strategic and International Studies (May 2018)

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3 Russia

Russia, in its Military Doctrine, positions electronic warfare

equipment as important equipment in modern military

conflict. It is noted that Russia used electronic warfare

equipment in the “Vostok 2018” exercise in September 2018,

the “Tsentr 2019” exercise in September 2019 and other

exercises. It is also pointed out that Russian forces have

positioned electronic warfare as part of offensive means and

improved practical electronic warfare capabilities in recent

years.5

Russia’s electronic warfare force reportedly has five

brigades led mainly by the Army.6 It is reported that Russia

used various electronic warfare systems in eastern Ukraine

to block Ukrainian forces’ command and control traffic and

jam GPS waves to interrupt their drone operations, affecting

Ukraine’s military performance.7 It is also reported that

Russia used Krasukha-4 and other electronic warfare systems

in Syria to interrupt NATO forces’ command and control

traffic and radar systems.8 In the vicinity of Japan, Russian

electronic reconnaissance aircraft’s long-range flights over

the Sea of Japan have been seen.

5 According to “Russia’s Electronic Warfare Capabilities to 2025,” Estonian Ministry of Defense6 According to “All quiet on the eastern front: EW in Russia’s new-generation warfare,” Jane’s International Defence Review (April 2018)7 According to “Russia’s Electronic Warfare Capabilities to 2025,” Estonian Ministry of Defense8 According to “All quiet on the eastern front: EW in Russia’s new-generation warfare,” Jane’s International Defence Review (April 2018)

Krasukha-4, electronic warfare system

【Russian Ministry of Defence】

Section 4Trends in Electromagnetic Domain